Leapfrogging Possibilities For Sustainable Consumption and ...

technology, aspects of energy efficiency; the mix of industrial and household level fuels;
structure of the economy expressed, example in terms of the relative size of different
industries by energy intensity are implied in the term technology. The level of technology
leap should take physical factors such as geography and climate. Accounting for social,
economic or environmental performance, leapfrogging technologies can be assessed
using different parameters such as carbon intensity per GDP, number of jobs created per
GDP, or number of households pulled out of poverty per GDP etc.
In Brazil, in addition to the government policy on disincentive for conventional gasolinefueled
automobiles, the development of an efficient sugarcane-to-ethanol conversion
technology along with the creation of supporting agricultural and distribution systems
was necessary.
7.2.2 Decentralized systems
Decentralized systems have a lot of advantages over centralized ones. These include
modularity, easy operation and maintenance, adaptability, etc. Utility services such as
water supply, energy production as well as wastewater treatment can be carried out in
effective and manageable manner through decentralized systems that can easily be
adapted to the requirements and realities of local conditions. The decentralized systems
should cover many elements of technological infrastructure such as research and
development institutions; technology and industry-level support centres such as NCPCs;
and centres for development, operation and maintenance of modular systems.
7.3 Development Context and Cooperation Cluster
This cluster is where the soft parts of stakeholder participation, cooperation as well as
partnership are highlighted.
7.3.1 Stakeholder involvement
The list of projects started in many African countries that failed sooner or later is not
short. One of the important factors behind such failures can be traced back to the
weakness of achieving an inclusive stakeholder involvement both before and during the
projects. Direct and indirect stakeholders including the public should be involved not
only during the implementation process but also during the planning stage from the very
outset.
7.3.2 Effective and efficient regional integration
Any effort of leapfrogging should look for a prioritization of grand gains that will not
leave some African countries at disadvantage and thus create a dividing line between a
given country and another country next door.
The quest should be for an effective and efficient regional integration that ideally
facilitates the development of specialized roles within an organic cooperation between
countries of economic and other form.
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